Dennis Lindsey's top priority this offseason is to re-sign Gordon Hayward for the Utah Jazz.

“It goes without saying that every fiber of our collective soul as the Utah Jazz want him back,” Lindsey said. “We think it’s a great fit. You can’t force a marriage, it’s got to be both ways. But we’re very comfortable with where we’re at.”

The Jazz have several advantages in what they can offer Hayward, who will receive max contract offers from multiple teams.

“It’s not like we can legally come to an agreement right now,” Lindsey said.

“What we told him is, he’s us,” Lindsey said. “All that development stuff . . . using our facilities and using (assistant coach) Johnnie Bryant as the lead guy in his development. When Gordon committed last summer, there was a very detailed plan.”

The Celtics WISH he was a Celtic next season. He ain't going anywhere. Utah has a fantastic young core and coach in place. And for the 3rd consecutive decade, Utah somehow manages to sign more white guys than anyone else. I think thats attributed to the fact the best players ( 75% of league is black ) generally prefer other cities. Not eluding that SLC is racist.

16-17 Jazz is a better team than the 16-17 Celtics. Jazz's net rating is +4.7 while the Celtics is only +3.1. This is *before* adjusting for strength of opponents. The Celtics are just 17-13 (46-win pace) against West teams.

Having said that, Hayward should go to the Celtics if his goal is to make a deeper playoff run. The East is easier to get a higher seeding and make a deeper run.

Mark Jackson wrote:Playoff preparation is overrated... I’m going to get my rest. I’m not going to grow old and be stressed out and get gray hair.

It's pretty terrible that Draymond Green made the All-NBA team over Gordon Hayward.

Draymond Green averaged 10 PPG on 41% FG.... How do you shoot such a low percentage playing for the most efficient offense in the league? You can talk all you want about the little things Draymond does, that's called being a role player. Not impressed with assists numbers when you play with Curry, Durant, and Thompson.

Hayward on the other hand put up a monster season and should have been a fringe MVP candidate.

luss54321 wrote:It's pretty terrible that Draymond Green made the All-NBA team over Gordon Hayward.

Draymond Green averaged 10 PPG on 41% FG.... How do you shoot such a low percentage playing for the most efficient offense in the league? You can talk all you want about the little things Draymond does, that's called being a role player. Not impressed with assists numbers when you play with Curry, Durant, and Thompson.

Hayward on the other hand put up a monster season and should have been a fringe MVP candidate.

Yeah the likely DPOY and runner up last two years is just another role player. Lol. You understand there are two ends of the court right?

likashing wrote:16-17 Jazz is a better team than the 16-17 Celtics. Jazz's net rating is +4.7 while the Celtics is only +3.1. This is *before* adjusting for strength of opponents. The Celtics are just 17-13 (46-win pace) against West teams.

Having said that, Hayward should go to the Celtics if his goal is to make a deeper playoff run. The East is easier to get a higher seeding and make a deeper run.

Indeed. But hey we dont call the East minor league for nothing.

And no way Hayward is leaving Jazz. Great team, great organization that can offer him the most money

likashing wrote:16-17 Jazz is a better team than the 16-17 Celtics. Jazz's net rating is +4.7 while the Celtics is only +3.1. This is *before* adjusting for strength of opponents. The Celtics are just 17-13 (46-win pace) against West teams.

Having said that, Hayward should go to the Celtics if his goal is to make a deeper playoff run. The East is easier to get a higher seeding and make a deeper run.

Celtics plus Hayward is better than current Jazz, that is how you look at it. Hayward is not free agent from a 3rd team looking which of these 2 to join. He stays with the Jazz and they stay a pretty good team. He joins the Cs and that team becomes a great team imo

likashing wrote:16-17 Jazz is a better team than the 16-17 Celtics. Jazz's net rating is +4.7 while the Celtics is only +3.1. This is *before* adjusting for strength of opponents. The Celtics are just 17-13 (46-win pace) against West teams.

Having said that, Hayward should go to the Celtics if his goal is to make a deeper playoff run. The East is easier to get a higher seeding and make a deeper run.

Celtics plus Hayward is better than current Jazz, that is how you look at it. Hayward is not free agent from a 3rd team looking which of these 2 to join. He stays with the Jazz and they stay a pretty good team. He joins the Cs and that team becomes a great team imo

Exactly. 16-17 Celtics already have the #1 seed, or #2 if the Cavs wanted the #1 seed. And they are getting the #1 pick. Adding Hayward to these Celtics will mean a higher chance reaching the Finals for Hayward. They just need to beat the Cavs (or get lucky against the Cavs once), and they are in the Finals.

If Hayward stays in the West, Utah needs to go through one of Rockets/Spurs *and* the Warriors before reaching the Finals. Much harder path.

If he wants to get to the FInals, the East is definitely better.

However, the Celtics cannot offer as much money though.

Mark Jackson wrote:Playoff preparation is overrated... I’m going to get my rest. I’m not going to grow old and be stressed out and get gray hair.

The minute he didn't make the all-nba team - I'm pretty sure it was a done deal he was leaving. Celtics are going to pitch him to take a 4 year max contract with opt out and than after the 2019-2020 season he can become a ufa again with 10 years of experience and full bird rights which will allow him to resign with celtics on a super max deal. Hayward would also likely draw significant endorsement and off court income in the Boston/NE market in comparison to Utah. And the ECF is an easier route to the finals. People forget Hayward tried to ditch Utah 3 seasons ago by signing a max offer sheet with Hornets that was matched. And when the Jazz were in rebuild he was constantly going through the car wash of trade rumors.

likashing wrote:The Jazz can still offer $177m/5, while the Celtics can only offer $132m/4.

Higher off court income the next 5 years in Boston/NE through endorsements and the like shrink that cushion - and Hayward assuming he goes to Celtics will be a ufa again in 3 years and will be 30 and still in his prime so he will re-up on another max or near max deal. Unless he is really scared of some major injury or dying in a plane crash where his shorter contract is fully insured to it's current length so there is less money left to take care of his family - he should be all good to be in Celtics green next year. The only star player recently to benefit by staying at home and taking more money was Chris Bosh - He resigned with Heat for 5 years 118M instead of with rockets for 4 years 88M but due to his blood clots which most likely will force him into retirement - he banked an extra 30M with the decision. Andrew Bynum on the other hand did the opposite and lost a lot of dough - after sixers acquired him they offered him a 3 year 65m max extension but he wanted to hold out till he was a ufa despite his injury history so he could sign a 5 year 100M max deal the following summer. Than his knees and career basically gave out and he lost 65M guaranteed. Amare's situation was the same with the knicks - phoenix wanted to keep him offered him 6 year max i believe but only the first 3 years of the contract was fully guaranteed so if his knees gave out - suns could just waive him with out having to pay him more or carry an albatross cap hit. Knicks who struck out on lebron offered him a full 5 year max deal - fully guaranteed and he grabbed it and lone behold - he had maybe 3 good seasons left before his knees gave out and he was barely riding the bench. had he stayed in Phoenix he would have lost 50M+ in money.